22-year-old Brazilian star, Neymar Injured In Brazil Win, Reportedly Taken To Hospital.....Neymar OUT of World Cup with broken bone in his back after suffering injury in Brazil's quarter-final victory over Colombia

Neymar on da stretcher

Brazil's win over Colombia may have come at a high cost: Neymar.

The superstar playmaker suffered an apparent back injury late in the quarterfinal clash at Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza on Friday. In the 87th minute, Colombia's Juan Camilo Zuniga drove his right knee into Neymar's lower back while leaping to attempt to head the ball. The Brazil forward dropped to the field in pain after the contact. The 22-year-old star was soon loaded onto a stretcher and taken immediately down the tunnel away from the field.

Not long after the final whistle sounded on Brazil's 2-1 win, ESPN's post-game coverage returned to Fortaleza for a report from the commentators who had called the action.

"A bit of news just starting to reach us is that Neymar has been taken straight to hospital and the Brazilian media are saying it doesn't look good at the moment," ESPN commentator Ian Darke said. "He was taken off on a stretcher."

ESPN soccer columnist Jeff Carlisle also reported he had heard that Neymar had been taken to a hospital. more